Filter



(No Model.)

J. J. MQTIGHE.

FILTER.

No. 391,328. Patented Oct. 16, 1888.

N. PETERS Phokrmfwgnpmr. Wuhillglnm D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT Gtrrcn.

JAMES J. MOTIGHE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FILTER.

$PBCIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,328, dated October16, 1888.

Application filed July 26, 1887.

To aZZ whom, it 12mg concern.-

Be it known that l, JAMES J. MOTIGHE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFilters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, reference beinghad to theaccompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention has relation to filters for liquids, and has for itsobject the provision of means whereby the filter is caused to thoroughlyand automatically cleanse itself of all accumulated impurities andremain constantly in a condition for supplying pure clean liquid.

The purpose and effect of my invention are to render the cleansingoperation by the action of the water automatic, using filtered water asthe cleansing medium.

My invention accordingly consists, first, in the provision of means andin the method of producing a counterfiow automatically and withoutarresting the filtering operations.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section ofa filter embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar section of amodified form of filter, and Fig. 3 a top view of the valveoperat-ingmechanism.

My improvements are especially applicable to that form of filter whereintwo or more similar filtering-chambers are employed, each containing aplate, diaphragm-bed, or porous cup, and my invention does notnecessitate any change whatever in the internal arrangements.

Taking the filter shown in Fig. l as an illustration or example, Adesignates the body of the filter divided into two chambers, A A by avertical partition, B. Each chamber is subdivided into two compartmentsby a filtering diaphragm, C, of any suitable material.

D represents the water-supply branches at d, one branch leading to onecompartment of a filtering-chamber, preferably in the present instanceto the innermost compartment.

E E are pipes leading from the two outer compartments, respectively, anduniting at c, whence a single pipe, E, leads to the point of usage. Atthe junction of the branches (Z d with the main supply D a valve orcock, G,

Serial No. 245,346. (No model.)

is located, having three ports, 9 9 the port g communicating with thesupply-pipe D,and the other two being so arranged that communicationwill be alternately established between the pipes d d and thewaste-pipes h h. This valve is reversible, so that interchange ably thefilter-compartments are brought into communication with the supply andoutlet. At the junction of the pipes E E with the main outlet F anothervalve or cock, G, is located. This valve is constructed with a port,

f, to communicate with one of the pipes E E; and with a smaller port, f,forming a communication between the two pipes E E. The valve G is alsoreversible, and is connected by a rod, H, to the valve G. Both valvesare' rotary and operate simultaneously.

Various expedients may be employed for automatically turning the valves.It will be suffieient to suggest the device shown in the drawings, whichconsists of a rock lever or arm, K, coupled to the valve G andsupporting a bucket, r, at either end. The outlet- J pipe from the valveG is branched, so as to '75 lead to the two buckets.

The operation is as follows: The supply be ing turned on, unfilteredwater flows into the inner compartment of one chamber and passes throughthe filtering-diaphragm, and thence by way of one of the outletbranches. Aportion of the filtered water escapes by way of the valve Gand passes downward in a reverse direction through the chamber, escapingby way of the outlet in the valve G and by way of one of the outletbranches into one of the buckets. XV hen the latter is filled, itsweight tilts the lever K and reverses both valves. The supply then takesa contrary direction, while a portion of the filtered water passesdownwardly through the filtering-diaphragm of the first chamber, thusthoroughly cleaning the latter of all accumulations that have resultedfrom its previous use. The operation continues so long as there is anysupply. 5 As each bucket descends, it is emptied by the opening of avalve in its bottom or by tilting or other suitable means.

The valve-controlling lever K is prevented from being slowly orgradually moved while a bucket is being filled by any suitable deviceas, for instance, the springs m m, which restrain the lever untilabucket is sufiicientl y filled, the weight then overcoming the springpressure.

The modified form of filter shown in Fig. 2 has horizontalfilteringdiaphragms; but the automatic principle and mode of operationare substantially the same as in Fig. 1.

The filter may be used for other liquids besides water.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-- I 1. A self-cleaning water-filter comprising twinfiltering-chambers having inlet and outlet branches andinterposedautomatically-operated reversible valves, said valves having ports bywhich the water from the main source is directed through one chamber anda portion of the water filtered therein directed through the otherchamber.

2. A water-filter comprising twin inter changeable filtering-chamberswith separate branches to each from the main supply and from each to acommon outlet, combined with valves and valve mechanism operated by theweight of the Water, said valves having ports which alternately directthe supply through one chamber and a portion of the filtered water in areverse direction through the other chamber, substantially as described.

3. In a filter, the combination of the twin interchangeable filteringchambers or vessels '0 O, inlet branches (1 d, outlet branches E E,

JAMES J. MOTIGHE.

Witnesses:

LOUIS MOESER, H. O. EvER'r.

